Smoking & Tobacco Use
1. What are the health effects of Smoking? Smoking causes many chronic diseases such as lung cancer and many other forms of cancer, heart diseases and respiratory diseases including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.
Overall, smokers are less healthy than nonsmokers; smoking affects the immune system, which increases a person’s risk for infections. Smoking also increases the risk for fractures, dental diseases, sexual problems, eye diseases and peptic ulcers.
When people quit smoking, their bodies begin to recover and their risk for smoking-related diseases decreases over time. Although people who smoke will never be as healthy as they would have been had they never smoked at all, risks continue to decrease the longer they stay smoke free.
2. How does smoking affect my risk for respiratory disease?
Smoking injures lung tissues and affects the lung’s ability to fight infections. Tissue damage from smoking can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is sometimes called emphysema, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the US. More than 90 percent deaths from COPD are caused by smoking.
Smoking also can cause other respiratory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to have upper and lower respiratory tract infections, perhaps because smoking suppresses immune function. Smokers’ lung function also declines more quickly than that of nonsmokers.
3. How does smoking affect risk for cardiovascular diseases?
Heart disease and stroke are cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) diseases caused by smoking. Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death in the US. Most cases of these diseases are caused by atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries. Smoking speeds up this process, even in young smokers. Cigarette smokes damages the cells lining the blood vessels and heart, causing swelling that prevents the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. Smoking also increases a person’s risk of dangerous blood clots, which can also cause a heart attack or stroke.
Fortunately, risks for heart disease and stroke decrease steadily after a person quits. One year after a person quits, the excess risk for coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker, and after 15 years, the risk for coronary heart disease returns to that of a nonsmoker. After 5 to 15 years, a former smoker’s risk for stoke decreases to that of a nonsmoker.
3. How does smoking cause emphysema?
Smoking injures lung tissue. Tissue damage from smoking can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is sometimes called emphysema.
With COPD, the airways and air sacs lose their elasticity and walls between many air sacs are destroyed. The walls of the airways also become inflamed and swollen and more mucous is formed. As a result it becomes very difficult to get air in and out of the lungs. Because these changes happen slowly over a number of years, a person may not notice the changes until it’s too late.
Is there cure for emphysema?
There is no cure for emphysema, but the risk of developing this disease decrease when a person quits smoking.
How does smoking affect my risk for cancer? Certain agents in tobacco smoke can damage important genes that control the growth of cells, which increases a person’s risk for many types of cancer.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. About 87 per cent of lung cancers are caused by smoking, smokers are about 20 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers. Smoking also causes cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx (voice box) and esophagus, and increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the pancrease, kidney, bladder, cervix and stomach. Smoking may also contribute to the development of acute myeloid leukemia, which is the cancer of the blood.
For smoking attributable cancers, the risk generally increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the number of years of smoking, risks generally decreases after a person quits completely. Ten years after quitting, the risk of developing lung cancer decreases by as much as half.
How does smoking affect reproductive health in women?
Women who smoke have more difficulty becoming pregnant and have higher risk of never becoming pregnant. Those who smoke during pregnancy also have a greater chance of complications including placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta grows too close to the opening of the uterus and placental abruption, a condition in which the placenta prematurely separates from the wall of the uterus.
In conditions to complications, women who smoke during pregnancy are at higher risk for premature birth, a low birth weight infant, stillbirth, and infant mortality.
How does smoking affect reproductive health in men?
Although only a small number of studies have looked at the relation between smoking and erectile dysfunction, research findings suggest that smoking may be associated with an increased risk for this condition.
Research also suggests that cigarette smoking may affect the amount of semen and sperm produced and adversely affect quality.
How long does nicotine stay in the body and what mechanisms are used to test for nicotine in the body?
The amount of nicotine, cotinine, carbon monoxide, or other components found in the body varies with the amount of tobacco used, the type of product used and a person’s smoking behavior (e.g. how deeply the person inhales). However, within 3 to 4 days of quitting, any by-products found in the body should be at levels low enough to indicate that the person is no longer actively smoking.
What is nicotine addiction? Nicotine is the highly addictive drug found naturally in tobacco. Nicotine is found in cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, shisha (the flavored tobacco smoke in a hookah or water part), bidis and kreteks (clove cigarettes). Even if a tobacco product is marketed as “all natural,” it is still addictive because of its nicotine content.
Nicotine meets the following criteria for an addictive substance
- The user’s behavior is largely controlled by substance that causes mood change. Primarily because of the substance effects on the brain.
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The individual will continue to use the substance often putting it before the priority
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The person develops tolerance for the drug so increasing amounts are needed to create the same effects.
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Withdraw symptoms occur if the person does not use the drug
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A strong tendency for relapse exists after quitting.
How does nicotine affect the body? Nicotine reaches the brain within ten seconds after smoke enters the lungs and affects the body. Nicotine raises the heart and respiratory (breathing) rates. Nicotine also causes more glucose (blood sugar) to be released into the blood, which may explain why smokers may feel more alert after smoking.
Nicotine also causes the brain cells to release unusually larger amount of a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine stimulates pleasures in the brain making the smoker feel good.
The effects of nicotine do not last very long. When the effects wear off, the smoker feels strong urge to smoke again to get more nicotine.
Repeated doses of nicotine alter the brains activities. The brain reduces the amount of dopamine that it produces. The number of receptors that carry dopamine to the cells is also reduced. When this happens, the smoker needs nicotine just to have normal levels of dopamine in the brain. If the level of dopamine drops, the smoker feels irritable and depressed.
Both young and older smokers can become addicted to nicotine. In adults, nicotine addiction is linked to amount and frequency of tobacco used. In teens, nicotine addiction appears to be linked to the length of time they have been regular tobacco users. Teens who only smoke small amount but who smoke daily are still at high risk of becoming addicted to nicotine.
What are the health effects of casual/ light smoking? Some people believe that smoking only in social situations or smoking only a few cigarettes a day is not harmful. Although health risks related to smoking increase with the amount smoked and the length of time a person smokes, there is no safe amount to smoke.
Any time that tobacco smoke touches a living cell, some damage is done. When a person inhales cigarette smoke, the smoke enters the lungs and damage lung tissues. Nicotine in the smoke is then rapidly absorbed into the blood within ten seconds. Nicotine quickly increases heart trait and blood pressure and restricts blood flow to the heart. Nicotine also lowers skin temperature and reduces blood flow in the legs and feet. A major concern is that most people who start as casual smokers think they can stop whenever they chose. However, studies show that many of them become regular smokers.
What are the Health effects of using smokeless tobacco? Smokeless tobacco products are not a safe replacement for smoking. These products have significant health risks all tobacco products called nicotine. Smokeless tobacco products deliver more nicotine than cigarettes. The use of these products can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence. Youth who use smokeless tobacco also are more likely to become cigarette smokers.
Smokeless tobacco contains more than 25 cancer causing components, including arsenic and formaldehyde. People who use these products have a risk of developing cancer of the mouth and throat.
Smokeless tobacco use also is strongly associated with the formation of skin lesions in the mouth. These include leukoplakias (lu-ko-pla-kee-uh) which are white patches that can turn into cancer over time, and erythroplakia (e-rith-ro-pla-kee-uh), which are red patches that have a high potential for becoming cancerous.
Smokeless tobacco also is strongly associated with gum recession. Gum recession not only is unsightly; it increases ones risk of getting cavities on tooth roots and can make the teeth sensitive.
How does smoking affect infants born to mothers who smoke? Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for pregnancy complications, premature delivery, a low birth weight infant and stillbirth.
Babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant and babies who are exposed to second smoke after birth are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than babies who are not exposed to cigarette smoke. These babies also have weaker lungs than other babies, which increases their risks for many health problems.
How do I find information on global tobacco use?
KETCA national tobacco prevention and control programs works with the World Health organization (WHO Kenya country office),Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and other NGOs partners to prevent death and disease through effective and sustainable national tobacco prevention and control.
What are the health benefits of quitting tobacco/ tobacco use?
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• Stroke risk is reduced to that of a person who never smoked after 5- 15 years of not smoking
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• Cancer of mouth, throat and esophagus risks are halved five years after quitting.
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• Coronary heart disease is cut by half, 1 year after quitting and is nearly the same as someone who never smoked 15 years after quitting.
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• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk for death is reduced after quitting
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• Lung cancer risks drops by as much as half 10 years after quitting
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• Ulcer risks drops after quitting
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• Bladder cancer risks is halved after years after quitting
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• Peripheral artery disease decline after quitting
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• Cervical cancer risks is reduced a few years after quitting
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• Low birth weight baby risk drops to normal if pregnant women quit before pregnancy or during their first trimester
How do I quit smoking or using tobacco?
Research shows that counseling, self help programs and the use of approved{Doctors advice} medication are safe and effective ways to increase quitting. These methods can double your changes of quitting for good. Success rates are best when counseling and medication are used together. Five nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine purchase, gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal sprays); two non nicotine medications (bupropion and vareniclina)
How do I help a smoker/tobacco user quit?
Family friends, co-workers and others can be important sources of support for people who are trying to quit. The person might want to quit and must make the decision to try to quit, but others can contribute to that important decision.
Resist the temptation to nag, plead, bribe or threaten them. Instead, tell them why it is important to you that they quit. Be brief. If they are not receptive, try again another time
If someone you care about says that she/he is ready to quit, is trying to quit, or has recently quit, tell them how proud you are and offer your support. Remember that quitting is tough.
Nicotine withdrawal causes unpleasant symptoms. So the person may be tense, irritable or even sad for a time. Be sympathetic. Remind them that the withdrawal symptoms will eventually go away and that they are already becoming healthier.
Offer to go for a walk with them or do other activities that will help keep them destructed. Encourage them to eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water and juices and get enough rest.
Help the new non smokers avoid places where other people are smoking or places or activities they connect with smoking. If they relapse, encourage them to get on track and move on.
Let the person know that they are sources of support such as KETCA and its members.
What are common withdrawal symptoms from smoking/tobacco use? When a person quits smoking or using smokeless tobacco, they often experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- • Experiencing a strong to urge to smoke, dip or chew
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• Feeling hungry or frustrated
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• Feeling anxious or depressed
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• Finding it hard to concentrate
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• Feeling headachy, restless or tired.
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• Being hungry or gaining weight
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• Having trouble sleeping
These symptoms are temporary and they vary from person to person. Symptoms usually peak about one to three weeks after quitting. Cravings or urgency to use tobacco may last much longer than other symptoms.
How do I manage withdrawal symptoms? Nicotine withdrawal symptoms vary form person to person and usually peak one to three weeks after quitting tobacco use.
People who have successfully quit, have found a number of ways to help them cope with withdrawal symptoms until they lessen or go away. These are especially important in the first week when symptoms are strongest and the chance of relapse is greatest.
After quit
- • Drink a lot of water and fruit juice. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol
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• If you miss having a cigarette in your hand, play with a pencil , paper clip or other item
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• If you miss having something in your mouth, try sugar-free gum or hard candies, sunflower seed, carrots or celery sticks.
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• Stay busy, enjoy activities that are hard to combine with smoking. Go to places where smoking is not allowed.
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• Change habits. Get up from the table immediately you finish eating and take a walk. If you always smoke while driving, take public transportation (if available) or get a ride with anon-smoker if you can. Is the telephone a problem? Meet friends to talk in person
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• Brush your teeth often. Enjoy the feeling of clean mouth.
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• Avoid situations and places you strongly associate with the pleasure of smoking
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• Take advantage of resources that offer supper
If symptoms are severe you might want to consider one of the treatments that the public heath service considers to be safe and effective. These treatments include counseling, the use of approved medication or combination of these treatments. Five nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers and nasal sprays), zyban (bupropion), and chantixTM (varenicline tartrate). Ask your doctor for advice
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